Underground gallery and method of constructing the same



March 11, 1941. L. c. MODERMOTT' 2,234,380

UNDERGROUND GALLERY AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME Patented Mar. 11, 1941 STT'ES UNDERGROUND GALLERY AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME 4 Claims.

This invention relates to what is arbitrarily termed an articulated gallery tunnel and method of constructing the same, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a unique type of gallery and display system having both an educational and commercial appeal to the public at large, and wherein pictures, models of buildings and industrial plants and the like, biographical mementos and analogous articles may be placed on display either temporarily or permanently, and wherein also commercial advertising may be displayed to advantage and carry in whole or in part the cost of construction and maintenance of the gallery; the construction being of such permanent and durable nature as to provide an archive repository which will forever resist the ravages of time and perpetuate the names and wordly endeavors and attainments of those who may take over a room or space in the gallery.

In constructing the gallery tunnel, a suitable geographical and topographical location is selected, the tunnel itself being preferably formed horizontally into or through solid rock such as granite, or advantage may be taken of natural cave formations although the latter seldom have a formation which would render utilization of the cave practicable. A suitable entrance way, preferably of an imposing nature, is built to the gallery tunnel. The first step is to drill into the rock a distance such as will provide the initial display room, say for example fifty or one hundred feet, and then a workmans tunnel is drilled at a bisecting angle until it reaches a distance, say ten to thirty feet from the gallery tunnel, at which point it is directed in a line substantially paralleling the gallery tunnel. At spaced points, lateral passageways are drilled from the workmens tunnel across to the gallery tunnel. After the first gallery space is completed and permanently braced and walled up, a transparent partition wall is placed at the end of the gallery tunnel, and the workmens tunnel is then advanced to a point where the next lateral passageway is to be drilled, and the work from then on proceeds progressively in full View of the visitors in the main gallery tunnel. As each room is completed and rented or purchased, the transparent partition is moved forward-proper precautions being taken to insure safety and to follow out the laws governing mining and tunneling operations of the state wherein the gallery may be located.

The foregoing is a general statement of the method of constructing the improved and unique gallery, and to gain a clearer understanding of the same, reference is had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional plan view, partially diagrammatic, of a gallery tunnel embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the tunnel system with the side adjacent the observer removed showing the interior of gallery tunnel proper; and,

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 33, Fig. 2.

As heretofore indicated, the gallery tunnel is preferably formed through solid rock or granite in the base of a cliff, mountain or other suitably located natural formation, the rock or granite being indicated at 5. The gallery tunnel proper consists of an elongated passageway indicated at 6, and if formed above the normal ground level, may have a suitable stepped approach as at 1. At the entrance-to the tunnel, a suitable building structure 8 may be provided, at which point an admission fee may be collected from those desiring to pass into the gallery.

A working tunnel generally indicated at 9 is formed with its entrance at an angle to that of the main gallery tunnel, and at a suitable point inwardly from the mouth of the latter, the working tunnel is preferably extended in a line substantially paralleling the main gallery tunnel. Lateral passageways l0, Ida and [0b are formed off from the one side of the working tunnel across the gallery tunnel and preferably a suitable distance into the opposite side wall of the latter. These lateral passageways provide exhibit rooms and repositories and after each is finished, it is thoroughly reinforced and walled up, such as by slabs of marble, granite or the like; and this also holds true with respect to the main gallery passageway.

The respective units of the gallery are built up progressively, and this feature is, utilized as an added attraction to the actual display in the main'gallery- Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that there is an unfinished display room or transverse passage lllc in the process of formation, workmen being shown drilling and blasting the rock for extending the main gallery tunnel and adding the next compartment. The end Wall of the last completed and finished gallery room consists of a partition H, which is shock proof and effectively shields the patrons in the gallery rem any possible injury or annoyance due to the blasting, drilling or other operations going on in the unfinished 'portionof the tunnel.

With

this in view the partition ll may be formed of structural steel plates Ila and Ho spaced from one another by beams llc, note in particular Fig. 3. The partition I l is provided with transparent panels l2 and 12a which may comprise separate panels of shatter-proof reinforced glass spaced from one another in a manner similar to the plates 1 la and I lb. This spaced construction provides a sound-deadening chamber I3 which also serves to take up shocks incident to blasting or other operations in the uncompleted portions of the gallery tunnel.

While the partition I I is in a sense a temporary structure, in that it is removed and advanced as the construction of the respective units progress, it is necessarily securely anchored in the side walls of the gallery tunnel by suitable masonry.

After the compartment or display room lllc is finished, it will be walled up in a manner similar to the preceding compartments I0, I00. and ltb, the partition I I then being removed from its anchorage and advanced to a point beyond the succeeding compartment and again anchored in the walls of the gallery tunnel or passageway, this process being repeated as the respective compartments or units are filled or taken up by those utilizing the gallery,

Fig. 3 illustrates how the gallery compartments may be utilized by private individuals, institutions and the like to exhibit and perpetuate their activities. For example, the main center compartment 10b has therein the model of a large office building or skyscraper of a corporation together with the model of an industrial plant signifying the activities of the corporation. At the left on the wall of the gallery is a picture cabinet [4, while on the right is a wall compartment 1 5 having mounted therein a series of sliding drawers l6 which may be used by private individuals for permanently storing articles of memorial or sentimental value, each drawer bearing the name of the individual or institution renting or purchasing the same. The drawer may be locked and a key provided therefor and may also be shielded by a transparent panel, if desired.

The gallery may be given attractive lighting effects and also properly air-conditioned; and the Working tunnel should also be thoroughly ventilated and reinforced in a manner conforming to the rules and laws of the locality.

Advertising space may also be rented in the gallery, assuming, of course, that the same is of an appropriate and preferably educational nature; and the entire system may be conducted in a manner such as to yield a profit and yet at the same time prove of considerable interest and educational value to the public at large. No attempt is made herein to set forth the many different ways of conducting and operating the gallery.

It will be understood that while the foregoing description and drawings illustrate the preferred method of constructing the gallery tunnel, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction generally without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gallery of the type specified comprising a longitudinally extending passageway or gallery tunnel, a working tunnel extending adjacent the main gallery tunnel and substantially paralleling the latter, the working tunnel having a series of lateral passageways branching off therefrom and communicating with the gallery tunnel, said passageways after completion being walled up severing intercommunicating passage between the gallery and working tunnel and together with the gallery tunnel constituting the gallery. proper, and a removable end wall in the main gallery tunnel having a transparent panel section therein whereby actual construction work in the unfinished portion of the gallery may be viewed from the interior of the finished portion of the gallery, said end wall being constructed to resist and deaden shocks and sounds incident to the construction Work in said unfinished portion of the gallery.

2. The method of constructing an underground exhibition and archive gallery which consists in forming a gallery tunnel horizontally in solid rock or other natural earth formation, also forming a working tunnel first at a divergent angle to the gallery tunnel and then substantially parallel with but spaced from the latter, forming a series of lateral passageways off from the working tunnel to and in communication with the gallery tunnel and progressively walling up and finishing the gallery tunnel and passageways as Work thereon is completed, there being always an unfinished gallerycompartment in advance of the finished portion of the gallery, mounting a transparent end wall adjacent the finished end portion of the gallery so that the actual construction work in the unfinished portion of the gallery may be viewed from the finished portion of the latter, and removing and advancing the said end wall to the finished portion of the gallery tunnel as the latter is progressively completed.

3. The method of constructing an underground exhibition and archive gallery which consists in tunneling substantially horizontally in solid rock or other natural earth formation to provide a gallery tunnel, also tunneling first at a divergent angle to the gallery tunnel and then substantially parallel with but spaced from the latter to provide a working tunnel, progressively branching off laterally from the working tunnel to and in communication with the unfinished portion of the gallery tunnel to permit-advancement of the gallery tunnel without passing through or disturbing a finished or completed portion of the gallery, progressively closing the said lateral passageways to the completed portion of the gallery thus severing communication between the gallery and working tunnel and then walling up and finishing the lateral passageways so that the latter may serve as a finished gallery compartment viewable from the gallery tunnel, there being always an unfinished gallery compartment and lateral passageway in advance of the finished portion of the gallery, mounting a sound proof partition having a transparent panel therein at the finished end portion of the gallery so that the actual construction work in the unfinished portion of the gallery tunnel may be viewed from the finished portion of the gallery without danger or annoyance to patrons, and removing and advancing the said partition to the finished portion of the gallery tunnel as the latter is progressively completed.

4. The method of concurrently constructing and operating subterranean archive areas that includes the following steps; tunnelling horizontally spaced substantially parallel coextending initial sections of a working shaftway and of a viewing gallery; connecting the inner portions of said sections with a lateral passageway; walling that portion of said gallery that precedes said passageway and finishing said portion to form viewing and archive areas ready for immediate use; separating said portion and said passageway with an advanceable transparent partition; extending and reconnecting said sections with a second passageway; walling and. finishing said gallery up to said second passageway; walling and finishing said first passageway so that it is sealed from said shaftway and becomes part of said gallery; advancing said partition up to said second passageway; and in a like manner progressively joining additional sections to said shaftway and said gallery.

LYLE C. MCDERMOTT. 

